\For*give"\, v. t. [imp. {Forgave}; p. p. {Forgiven}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Forgiving}] [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven,
AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give;
cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. f?rgifva,
Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See {For-}, and {Give}, v. t.]
1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to
   resign.
         To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And
         to great ones such folly do forgive.  --Spenser.
2. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of
   (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon;
   -- said in reference to the act forgiven.
         And their sins should be forgiven them. --Mark iv.
                                               12.
         He forgive injures so readily that he might be said
         to invite them.                       --Macaulay.
3. To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong
   committed; to give up claim to requital from or
   retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; --
   said of the person offending.
         Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
         do.                                   --Luke xxiii.
                                               34.
         I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven.
                                               --Shak.
Note: Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as
      objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the
      other being the indirect object. ``Forgive us our debts
      as we forgive our debtors.'' --Matt. vi. 12. ``Be of
      good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.'' --Matt. ix. 2.
Syn: See {excuse}.